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After only learning Judo in 2018 for a few months, Theodor Subba won bronze in the over 100kg class at the 2019 Para Pan-American Games in Lima, Peru to become Jamaica’s first visually impaired athlete to compete and win a medal in Judo.

Today, the 25-year-old has his eyes set on competing and medaling in the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.

Hailing from the community of Grange Hill in Westmoreland, Subba attended the Salvation Army School for the Blind.

“My mother sending me to that school singlehandedly changed my life,” the Paralympian said.

“I went there from age two. No doubt it was hard for my mother to part from her two-year-old child at the time.

“When I reached the school, they said I was always running up and down. At home, the space was much smaller and so I was always bumping into things but Salvation Army was designed to facilitate persons with visual impairment.”

Subba was then transferred to Calabar High School where he completed his secondary education.

He noted that the Kingston-based boys’ school was very accessible and accommodating towards his disability.

“They had a lot of questions. The boys were very curious. I don’t think the teachers were trained but they handled persons with visual impairment to the best of their abilities. I was able to do my exams and classwork. I made a lot of friends too. I did everything that the other boys did at Calabar.”

Subba recalled the school’s vice principal at the time, saying: “You know boy, you can’t see but you are in everything.”

Subba shared that, while there are instances where he needs assistance, he tries to be as independent as possible.

He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Social Work at the University of the West Indies.

He explained that social work was something he always wanted to do. “Growing up with a disability, I felt that if I had someone to talk to sometimes, who could empathise with me, I would be better off. I want to give someone what I didn’t have growing up.”

PLACED 7TH IN JUDO

Subba first learnt about Judo in late 2018.

At that time, the Jamaica Judo Association had started introducing the sport to secondary schools.

“I went to Wolmer’s Boys for my first Judo class and from that day I fell in love with it. Six months later, I went to the Pan-American Games and I won a bronze medal.”

From there, Subba competed in several qualifiers to get to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the games were postponed until a year after.

Subba was shy of a medal, having placed 7th in Judo.

“There were a lot of athletes and I came in the top 10n for my first Olympics. I feel very good.”

“Mentally, I am a little anxious but I want to do well. All I have to do is listen to my coach and execute to the best of my ability.”

Theodor Subba

Subba is currently competing in tournaments at the 2023 IBSA Judo Grand Prix in Lisbon, Portugal.

The grand prix gathers judo athletes from 21 countries and four continents, with most of them paving their way to Paris 2024.

“Mentally, I am a little anxious but I want to do well. All I have to do is listen to my coach and execute to the best of my ability,” Subba said.

Coach Steven Moore, who is also the Development Officer at the Jamaica Judo Association, said the Lisbon tournaments will be used to assess Subba’s readiness for Paris.

“We plan to use the next two to three months to gauge where he is in terms of fitness and use that to develop a plan for him for the coming Games.”

Coach Moore added: “Working with Theodore has helped me to learn the ins and outs of working with people in the disabled community as well as how to communicate effectively with them.”

Coach Moore also highlighted the impact Subba is making in his community.

“It was an amazing feeling being at the Tokyo Games and seeing people from his community sharing pictures of him competing. I know that people from the UWI campus, as well as the Paralympic community, are really proud.”

Speaking at a recently held Digicel Foundation Paralympic Basketball Court Handover at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre about Theodor’s growth in Judo, the president of the Jamaica Paralympic Association, Christopher Samuda said: “Taekwondo and Judo came onto our agenda in 2018 and quickly and extraordinarily earned medals for us. In short order, our medalists transitioned in 2021 to the coveted Paralympic Games in Tokyo and did our country proud. Theodor just took up the sport for approximately one year and medaled. That’s sporting value.”